New Build questions - 3XS Triad "Tian Di Hui"

[Paleviper]

Hi

I am on the point of ordering a new system from 3XS and am looking at the following 3XS Triad "Tian Di Hui"


Case: Corsair Obsidian Series 800D
CPU: Intel i7 920 2.66Ghz 4.8GT s QPI @ 4Ghz with 20% OC (D0 Step)
CPU Coolers: Swiftech Apogee GTZ CPU Block
Overclocking: 3XS System Core-Logic Overclocking *0 - 10%*
Memory: 6GB (3x2Gb) Corsair Dominator PC3-12800 (1600) CAS8
NVIDIA Graphics - Multi GPU SLI Options Available: 1GB XFX GTX 285 XXX 670MHz GPU 240 Cores 2500 MHz GDDR3 + Assassins Creed, 2 selected
ATI Graphics - Multi GPU Crossfire Options Available: *No ATI VGA Card Required* (NVIDIA Required)
Additional VGA Water-Cooling Option *Includes Additional Radiator & Necessary Components*: Water Cooled Graphics Card x 2
Power Supply Unit: 850W Corsair HX Series Modular (Dual Graphics Cards)
System Drives: 1000 GB Western Digital Caviar Black 7200 rpm 32MB Cache
Storage Hard Drives: 1000 GB Western Digital Caviar Black 7200 rpm 32MB Cache
Solid State Drives: 120Gb OCZ Vertex Series (Read 200MB s Write 160MB s)
Floppy Drive Flash - Card Readers & Writers: Akasa AK-ICR-07S 3.5" Internal Multi Mem. Card Reader Incl. M2 Micro SD & USB port
DVD Writer: *DVD Writer Not Required*
Blu Ray Reader Writer: LG CH08LS10 - 8x Blu-Ray Reader & DVDRW - Retail Box
Sound Card: Creative X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional - PCI-E (x1)
Gaming Network Card: KillerNIC K1 Network Card with 333Mhz Processing Unit
Internal External (USB) Wireless Adaptors: *Wireless Adaptor Not Required*
Tubing: 2m TFC Red UV Reactive Tube 3 8" ID - 1 2" OD, 2 selected
Coolant: 1l Feser One Fluid - UV Red, 2 selected
Case Cooling Fans 120mm: 120mm Coolermaster Internal Case Fan with RED LED, 5 selected
Lighting Effects: Sharkoon 12" Red CCFL 2in1 Kit
Operating system: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32 64bit - Retail PreOrder Release 22 10 09
Software - Application: Microsoft Office 2007 - 60 Day Trial
Software - DVD Blu Ray Decoding: CyberLink PowerDVD 9 - Movie Audio Player & Decoder Software
Extended Warranty: Standard 3XS System Warranty - 2 Years (1st Year Onsite 2nd Year Return to Base)

I was wanting to go for the SLi option and would appreciate some advice as to whether the Graphics Cards proposed would be the best option

I was also wanting to replace the System hard Disk with a solid state drive and was looking at the 120Gb OCZ Vertex Series. There seemed to be no option to do with out the system hard disk though on the order form but was thinking about having 2 x 1000 GB Western Digital Caviar Black, 7200 rpm, 32MB Cache

I would however appreciate any advice or suggestions?

Thanks in anticipation

Robin

[TAKTAK]

Gaming Network Card: KillerNIC K1 Network Card with 333Mhz Processing Unit

Please don't buy it...
Save you're money and change the MLC SSD for an SLC or something, it is a MUCH MUCH MUCH better use of the money, or just save the money, the killerNICs are not worth the PCBs they are etched on...
I'd be tempted to not use feser fluid too... If it were my build...

And Ben will look after you well either via this thread of by phone, you can chop and change anything that you want via phone (the drop down menus aren't capacious enough to cover all options), you can have any combination that you want really...

Case = I want one
CPU = Egg-salad
CPU block = There are better blocks but that is decent enough
RAM = Tried and tested dominator, no probs there
GPU = Personally i'd stay away from XFX, and prolly wait it out for the 300's, what resolution are you going to be driving?
HDDs = Me likes WD
SSD = I'd drop the killerNIC and try and squeeze and SLC SSD in there, or go for one of the intel MLC SSDs
Gaming network card = NONONONONONONONONONONO
OS = Good choice

Should be a damn good build for years to come

[PeterStoba]

I personally would built myself and save the money but, if you've got the money, why not?

Anyway, to the issues. I would wait for the release of the GT300 from Nvidia, spending that much on 'old tech' isn't very effective.

[Paleviper]

TAKTAK

Thanks for the advice about the killerNIC.

With regards to resolution I use a 22" widescreen Samsung Monitor which I wasn't planning on changing currently set to 1680 x 1050. When are the Nvidia 300 series due to be available and is their any indication on cost. I don't have an unlimited budget and am probably pushing it a bit already.

I will have another look at the SSD's

With regards to the CPU Block which one would you recommend

PeterStoba

I would build it myself and have in the past but I am not sure I feel that confident about building something water cooled so decided if I was going to buy this I would get someone else to do it.

Thanks for the advice

Robin

[TAKTAK]

With regards to resolution I use a 22" widescreen Samsung Monitor which I wasn't planning on changing currently set to 1680 x 1050. When are the Nvidia 300 series due to be available and is their any indication on cost. I don't have an unlimited budget and am probably pushing it a bit already.

As you have experience yourself, i would be tempted to go with a GTX260 and save a bit of wonga until something amazing comes along, as for that resolutions you don't really need anything over the top (i've got a GTX260 driving 1920 x 1200 happily at full on everything) and then you have the option in the future if you upgrade your monitor, to upgrade GFX card when the prices have fallen, and sell the GTX260 to part fund it

With regards to the CPU Block which one would you recommend

i've just looked at SCANs selection and that is probably the best one they stock (it is a good block)

I would build it myself and have in the past but I am not sure I feel that confident about building something water cooled so decided if I was going to buy this I would get someone else to do it.

You could always get the watercooling parts and build outside the case first to get a grip on how to do things, and then transplant it into the case when you're happy Take your time and you'll be fine.
But it depends how you value your time, to you the time saved getting SCAN to build it, leak test it, and stability test it, you could be doing something else, but if you enjoy those things i would do it yourself

[jim]

Why not go for a 5850/5870?

[Paleviper]

Having considered the advice given I have changed my specification slightly and posted it below. I would however appreciate advice on the SSD Drive proposed. In line with the advice from TikTak I was looking at an Intel MLC and chose the 80GB one. Is it worth paying the extra for a slightly larger drive or does this represent the best value if I was going to have one of these drives. I am attracted to the speed of loading and the lack of noise but the downside is obviously the cost.

Any advice would be appreciated

Thanks

Robin

System Overview

Custom Coloured Cases: *No Custom Colour Required*
Case: Corsair Obsidian Series 800D
CPU: Intel i7 920 2.66Ghz 4.8GT s QPI @ 4Ghz with 20% OC (D0 Step)
CPU Coolers: Swiftech Apogee GTZ CPU Block
Overclocking: 3XS System Core-Logic Overclocking *0 - 10%*
Memory: 6GB (3x2Gb) Corsair Dominator PC3-12800 (1600) CAS8
NVIDIA Graphics - Multi GPU SLI Options Available: 1Gb ScanFX GTX 285 648 Mhz 240 Cores 2484 Mhz GDDR3, 2 selected
ATI Graphics - Multi GPU Crossfire Options Available: *No ATI VGA Card Required* (NVIDIA Required)
Additional VGA Water-Cooling Option *Includes Additional Radiator & Necessary Components*: Water Cooled Graphics Card x 2
Power Supply Unit: 850W Corsair HX Series Modular (Dual Graphics Cards)
System Drives: 1000 GB Western Digital Caviar Black 7200 rpm 32MB Cache
Storage Hard Drives: 1000 GB Western Digital Caviar Black 7200 rpm 32MB Cache
Solid State Drives: 80GB Intel MLC Flash SSD (Read 250MB s Write 70MB s)
Floppy Drive Flash - Card Readers & Writers: Akasa AK-ICR-07S 3.5" Internal Multi Mem. Card Reader Incl. M2 Micro SD & USB port
DVD Writer: *DVD Writer Not Required*
Blu Ray Reader Writer: LG CH08LS10 - 8x Blu-Ray Reader & DVDRW - Retail Box
Sound Card: Creative X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional - PCI-E (x1)
Gaming Network Card: *On Board Network Card Only*
Internal External (USB) Wireless Adaptors: *Wireless Adaptor Not Required*
Tubing: 2m TFC Blue UV Reactive Tube 3 8" ID - 1 2" OD, 2 selected
Coolant: 1l Feser One Fluid - UV Blue, 2 selected
Case Cooling Fans 120mm: 120mm Coolermaster Internal Case Fan with BLUE LED, 5 selected
Lighting Effects: Sharkoon 12" Blue CCFL 2in1 Kit
Operating system: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32 64bit - Retail
Software - Application: Microsoft Office 2007 - 60 Day Trial
Software - DVD Blu Ray Decoding: CyberLink PowerDVD 9 - Movie Audio Player & Decoder Software
Software - Security: *No Software Required*
Software - Hottest PC Games: *No Software Required*
TFT Monitor: *Monitor Not Required*
NVIDIA 3D Vision TFT Monitor - Requires NVIDIA Graphics Card: *NVIDIA 3D Vision Not Required*
Gaming Keyboard : *Gaming Keyboard Not Required*
Gaming Mouse Option: *Gaming Mouse Not Required*
Gaming Mouse Mat: *Gaming Mouse Mat Not Required*
Speakers: *Speakers Not Required*
Headphones: *Headphones Not Required*
Extended Warranty: Standard 3XS System Warranty - 2 Years (1st Year Onsite 2nd Year Return to Base)

[Noggin]

NVIDIA Graphics - Multi GPU SLI Options Available: 1Gb ScanFX GTX 285 648 Mhz 240 Cores 2484 Mhz GDDR3, 2 selected

There arn't many good reasons to buy a 285 at the moment, the 5850 from ati is cheaper, faster and direct x 11.